Editor's Note: EuroMaidan participants and political opposition leaders held a Jan. 19 rally in response to new measures signed into law on Jan. 17 by President Viktor Yanukovych that restrict freedom of speech and peaceful protest in many ways. The rally turned into a violent confict with police and protesters that continues on Jan. 20 with more than 100 people injured.
The EuroMaidan protests started Nov. 21 on Independence Square in opposition to Yanukovych's foreign policy U-turn away from the European Union in favor of Russia.The events can be followed on Twitter using hashtags #euromaidan and #євромайдан or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EuroMaydan or www.facebook/EuroMaidanPR
Police retreating on Hrushevskoho Street
11:54 p.m. The rock-throwing, homemade-explosives tossing, Molotov cocktail-hurling demonstrators have at least temporarily gained the upper hand against police officers, forcing them to retreat up the hill from their previous positions on Hryshevskoho Street near Dynamo Stadium, which is on the base of the hill leading up to Ukraine’s parliament. The retreat is grudging and inch-by-inch, as protesters shout “Glory to Ukraine,” bang metal rods against fire barrels and other makeshift drums. Explosions are taking place all over as if it’s a war zone. Fireworks fly over the remains of burning and burned-out police buses and trucks, set afire by protesters. Prosters are taking out pavement from the street for use as weapons and firing smoke bombs at police. They are using barrels as drums and building new barricades, as if preparing for a police raid tonight on Independence Square. Several hundred are taking part in the agitation. One protester plays the trumpet as others sing. — Katya Gorchinskaya and Daryna Shevchenko
Klitschko says civil war cannot be ruled out if violence continues
11:30 p.m. Speaking on Hromadske TV, opposition leader Vitali Klitscho says that if the government continues to use violence as a tool for ending Ukraine’s political crisis, civil war cannot be ruled out. He said he was returninng to Hrushevskoho Street, which is still in flames with police buses burning and constant explosions, in an attempt to bring peace. He said he is ready to take responsibility for solving the nation’s crisis.
Today’s violence is alarming Western leaders with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt tweeting that “open democratcy and reconciliation are the only way forward for Ukraine. Repression and violence will seink the country. Earlier, Lavtian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgard Rinkevics tweeted: “On may way to Brussels. Although Ukrine is not on the agend of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, we need to discuss disturbing develoments in Kyiv.” –– Christopher J. Miller, Daryna Shevchenko and Anastasia Forina
Protests thinning out after 11 p.m., radicals remain
11:21 p.m. The protester crowd is thinning out on Hrushevskoho Street near European Square, but those who left behind look more radical. Smoke is everywhere along with scary music and makeshift drums beating. Police are blasting warnings from behind the barricades, but the officers’ warnings are being drowned out by the chaos and the noice. — Katya Gorchinskaya
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Klitschko says Yanukovych agrees to meeting on Jan. 20
11:01 p.m. In a statement on Jan. 19, opposition leader Vitali Klitschko said that — in a meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych — the president agreed to convene a committee that includes representatives of teh administration, Cabinet of Ministers and political opposition to resolve Ukraine’s political crisis. The meeting between Klitschko and Yanukovych took place at the president’s luxurious Mezhyhyria compound north of Kyiv. He pledged on Monday morning, a committee of representatives of the Presidential Administration. “I stressed the demands of the people who have been protesting for two months on the Maidan. What we should do is immediately solve the nation’s crisis,” Klitschko said. — Katya Gorchinskaya.
Several police vans set on fire
10:49 p.m. As the smoke near the police-protester standoff at Kyiv’s Dynamo Stadium made visibility poor, witnesses on the scene said they could see at least three police vans burning. They had been seized by demonstrators who set them on fire. — Oksana Grytsenko
Police now say 70 officers injured
10:45 p.m. The Interior Ministry is now saying that 70 officers have been injured in today’s clashes, including 40 that remain hospitalized. — Katya Gorchinskaya.
AutoMaidan activists say police destroyed vehicles, seized one activist
10:42 p.m. While driving along Kyiv’s Bohatyrskta Street enroute to President Viktor Yanukovvych’s Mezhyhyria estate, AutoMaidan activists say some 25 buses of officers got out and smashed vehicles in the car caravon and took one activist away. — Katya Gorchinskaya.
Police using rubber bullets as police vehicles burn
10:30 p.m. Kyiv Post staff photographer Kostyantyn Chernichkin said that police officers have started using rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators. He also reports that several police vehicles have been set on fire by demonstrators during the tense standoff that continues. Kyiv Post staff writer Oksana Grystenko says that the smoke from the tear gas and flares is so thick that it’s hard to know what is happening, but two emergency medical workers confirmed to her that rubber bullets are being used. The police have put some distance between themselves and protesters. Grystenko also says she saw one man injured with a severe eye injury. There are other unconfirmed reports of injuries, including one of a protester who lost one hand when a hand-held flash bomb exploded. — Brian Bonner
Conflict continues past 10 p.m.
10:10 p.m. People are chanting “Kyiv, arise!” and “Good boys!” at the radicals engaged in a tense standoff with police near Dynamo Stadium on the street that approaches Ukraine’s parliament. One man suffered an eye injury from a tear gas fragment and was being attended to by medical works. Nine ambulances remained on the site, staff by volunteers who handed out gas masks, milk and water for protesters to clear their eyes. Up to 10,000 people remain near the stadium. — Oksana Grytsenko
EuroMaidan activists preparing for police to storm Independence Square
10 p.m. EuroMaidan activists are reinforcing their barricades on the European Square side of the Independence Square encampment, which includes the opposition takeover of Kyiv city hall and the Trade Unions building. Activists say they believe police will storm Independence Square overnight to clean out the demonstrations that began on Nov. 21. The police have tried to forcibly disperse the demonstrations twice — on Nov. 30 and Dec. 10 — only to be met with greater resistance after their actions. — Oksana Grytsenko
Yatseniuk says Yanukovych wants to negotiate
9:59 p.m. Opposition leader Arseniy Yatseniuk took the EuroMaidan stage about 9:30 p.m. to say he received a telephone call from President Viktor Yanukovych to say that the administration wants to start negoations to end the political crisis in teh antion. Yanukovych said he has put Andriy Kliuyev, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, in charge. “We have to have honest, transparent and public politics in Ukraine,” Yatseniuk said, adding that he will insist that Yanukovych agree to all the demands of the opposition — resignation of the government, early presidential elections and amnesty for all political prisioners. Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko’s additional demands include taking all police off the streets, the convening of parliament to cancel the anti-democratic and draconian laws the restrict free speech and free assembly. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Major fight breaks out between police, protesters
9:51 p.m. A major clash has broken out police and protesters. As the crowd gets smaller, but still numbering in the thousands, police reinforced their position on Hrushevskoho Street with more officers who wore tear gas masks. There have been persistent, but unconfirmed reports, that police have been issued guns with rubber bullets. The longer the standoff lasts, the more the police will have the edge as the crowd thins out into the evening. — Mark Rachkevych
Klitschko meeting with Yanukovych
9:40 p.m. Several sources have confirmed that opposition leader Vitali Klitschko is meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych tonight at the presidential residence in Mezhyhyryia. Klitschko, who will challenge Yanukovych for reelection in 2015, earlier told TV reporters that he wants to defuse the situation and persuade Yanukovych to call early presidential elections as a way to resolve the escalating and increasingly violent political crisis that is two months old on Jan. 21. EuroMaidan started on Nov. 21 because of Yanukovych’s abrupt withdrawal from a political and free-trade agreement with the European Union in favor of a Dec. 17 bailout from Russia, who agreed to lend Ukraine $15 billion and cut the price of its gas imports by 33 percent. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Police appear to be mobilizing for assault
9:15 p.m. Police officers appeared to be mobilizing for a possible assault on the radical demonstrators. Officers donned gas masks, while protesters errecte a wall with steel green gates as protection. — Mark Rachkevych
Radicals continue throwing Molotov cocktails at police
9:11 p.m. The confrontation continues with protesters launching Molotov cocktails at police, while officers extinguish the fires. Loud firecrackers are being set off. A water canon truck is in place, but not being used at the moment, as people whistle and yell “shame” at the police officers. Police continue to fire back with tear gas, which is permeating the air near Dynamo Stadium. Of some 10,000 protesters on the schem, only about 20 people are instigating the violence. They are men in their 20s who are continually throwing objects at the police. The Interio Ministry says it has opened a criminal investigation into the violent incidents and that those found guilty could face up to 15 years in prison. — Mark Rachkevych and Katya Gorchinksaya.
US Embassy in Kyiv calls for end to violence
9:08 p.m. The United States Embassy in Ukraine calls for an end to ongoing violent confrontations between protesters and police in Kyiv. “We urge calm and call on all sides to cease any acts provoking or resulting in violence. We further urge the government of Ukraine to immediately start negotiations with all sides to resolve the political standoff, address protesters’ concerns, and prevent violence from spreading. Violence only serves to foster fear and confusion, and distracts from the need for a political solution, which is the best way to carry out the will of the Ukrainian people.” — Christopher J. Miller
Olesya Orobets, opposition member of parliament with Batkivshchyna faction, says police officers beat her
From her Facebook post: “I came to Hrushevskogo (Street) from the side of parliament. They knew fully well who I am. I didn’t attack anybody and was standing in an open place with a phone. A group of at least five hefty Berkut police officers wearing masks and special military clothing attacked me and swept me off my feet. I fell down on the cobblestone and struck my head, which was protected thanks to a helmet,” Orobets wrote on her Facebook page.
She said three men who were guarding her got beaten even more brutally.
“They struck them over the head and body, took away their phones and crushed them. In response to my questions ‘why are you beating me while I’m not doing anything to you?’ they were laughing and said – ‘we’re not beating you, we are pushing you aside.’ Without a leader of the disobedience, the protest has high chances to sink into blood while the state sinks into dictatorship. — Anastasia Forina
Interior Ministry says 40 officers injured, four people detained
8:51 p.m. Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said more than 30 of its officers were injured in today’s clashes and that four people have been detained. The injured officers suffered cerebral traumas, bruises, fractures and poisonings when attacked by the crowd. More than 10 officers were hospitalized, four in serious condition. One suffered a knife wound.
Earlier, this is what the Interior Ministry said about one of its officers attacked and captured by demonstrators, but later released: “He was held in the House of Trade Unions of Ukraine, but law enforcement officials have already freed the colleague. Previously doctors stated he had a closed cranio-cerebral injury, broken ribs and nose and state of shock. During the assault of the live “chain” of law enforcement officers on Hrushevskoho Street one of the employees of Berkut riot-police special units, who had served to protect public order, was pulled out of the ranks and dragged in the House of Trade Unions by rally activists. According to a police officer, on the way to the House of Trade Unions and inside of it the building, activists were constantly beating him. After his liberation, “Berkut” employee was sent to hospital. Now he is receiving all necessary assistance.” –– Katya Gorchinskaya and Iryna Yeroshko.
Klitschko makes televised plea to Yanukovych
8:24 p.m. Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko made a televised plea to President Viktor Yanukovych for snap presidential elections and also called on Yanukovych to “stop the war agains the people of Ukraine” by pulling the Berkut riot-control police officers off the streets. “The only way out of this is to change the government. We need new, snap elections,” Klitschko, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, said. “Find the moral strength not to crush the people, the way of… (former Libyan leader Muammar) Qadaffi.” Unconfirmed reports surfaced that Klitschko sought a personal meeting with Yanukovych on the night of Jan. 19. — Anastasia Vlasova and Christopher J. Miller
Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko addresses President Viktor Yanukovych; unconfirmed reports surfaced on Jan. 19 that he sought a personal meeting with Yanukovych to call for early election and put a stop to the violent conflicts.
Police say one of their riot-control officers captured, injured, later released
8:15 p.m. According to the Interior Ministry’s official website, demonstrators captured and beat one Berkut riot-police officer who was taken to the opposition-occupied House of Trade Unions and later sent to a hospital for treatment. UNIAN news agency reported 20 police officers injured, but this could not be confirmed. There is a photo of a wounded police officer, lying on the street and bleeding from the head as medical personnel attend to him, taken by the Ukrainian News Agency. — Brian Bonner
Clashes still going strong close to 8 p.m.
7:55 p.m. Police used a water cannon to douse flames from what appeared to be Molotov cocktails as clashes continued into the evening near Kyiv’s Dynamo Stadium. The water also was trained on some demonstrators — which may constitute an illegal use of a water cannon because of sub-zero temperatures. Several dozen protesters wearing orange hardhats were seen carrying police shields seized from officers. The crowd continued to egg on the radical actions, shouting “Bandits, get out!” — Brian Bonner
Riot police bring in reinforcements
7:36 p.m. Hundreds of riot police are organizing behind police lines near buses and trucks that pulled up within the last hour as protesters attempt to pull over a police bus set ablaze earlier in the evening. Fear is growing among protesters as tensions escalate that police may be preparing to charge the crowd. For now, however, the police cordon stands as the groups continue to clash. –– Christopher J. Miller
Long night ahead as neither side gives ground
7 p.m. Police, backed by military trucks and numerous reinforcements, were locked in a standoff with hundreds of radical protesters, who in turn were backed by peaceful demonstrators cheering on their attempts to take over police buses and break a police cordon protecting the government district. Demonstrators again set fire to the same police bus they had seized and burned earlier. The demonstrators have taken over at least three police buses. –– Christopher J. Miller and Jakub Parusinski
Yatseniuk disavows clashes, says government is creating disorder to crack down
6:40 p.m. Opposition leader Arseniy Yatseniuk says the government is creating the vandalism and violence to justify a crackdown on demonstrators and an end to the anti-government EuroMaidan protests that seek to oust President Viktor Yanukovych. Yatseniuk says he condemns the clashings. “It was not our plan,” he said, describing the opposition plan as peaceful and devoted to “discipline, unity, wisdom and patience.” — Brian Bonner
Police douse their buses with water to prevent them from being set afire
6:10 p.m. Police doused buses that protesters were trying to set on fire with orginatry hoses. However, they have a water cannon truck at the scene for use — on buses or, it appears, against demonstrators if the situation gets further out of control. — Jakub Parusinski
Several ambulances stand by; protesters treated on scene
6:03 p.m. Protesters on the scene are being treated on the scene after suffering from tear gas and other injuries during the clashes. Several ambulances with emergency medical personnel are on the scene. –– Christopher J. Miller
Both sides clash at a distance
5:50 p.m. Police and protesters are keeping their distance from each other near Dynamo Stadium on Hryshevskoho Street in Kyiv’s center, but they continue throwing objects at each other. Thousands remain the crowd does not appear to be subsiding. — Jakub Parusinski
Who is responsible for clashes, and how long before police crack down?
5:30 p.m. The question of who is behind the current clashes looms large. The attacks on police do not look like they are sanctioned by the political opposition. In fact, opposition leaders disavowed them and Vitali Klitschko even was attacked by some demonstrators for trying to intervene. But it appeared the agitators were young men who are tired of waiting for action. It is difficult to stay in the area of conflict for very long because of the burning sensation to the eyes from all the tear gas in the air. One big question is how long police will tolerate have their buses burned and their officers assaulted before they launch a violdent crackdown. –– Anastasia Vlasova and Jakub Parusinski.
At least three police buses taken over as police fire back with dozens of rounds of tear gas
5:13 p.m. As a police bus went up in flames right near the entrance of Kyiv’s Dynamo Stadium, police tried to clear the area by throwing more than two dozen tear gas canisters. The smell is everywhere. Some protesters fired back with the same weapon. Several thousand people remain on wild scene on Hryshevskoho Street near European Square. The weapon-carrying agitators leading the attacks on police are masked, something that new legislation signed into law by President Viktor Yanukovych would prohibit. Some of the radicals are breaking up the cobblestone from the street to use as weapons. While protesters were throwing objects at police, the two sides are not engaged in physical fights. The protesters, however, were well-prepared with helmets and masks covering their faces. –– Christopher J. Miller and Anastasia Vlasova
Long standoff continues, with flares, flash bombs, tear gas
5 p.m. A police bus burned down after being set afire by radical protesters. Demonstrators seeking to break police lines guarding the Cabinet of Ministers and Verkhovna Rada buildings wielded gas grenades and metal pipes as weapons. Thousands of people stood behind the first rows of agitators.
The police lines are holding.
It is not clear who is behind the violent action and who is sanctioning the violence and vandalism. Protests in Ukraine are often marred by paid provocateurs who create disruptions designed to provoke a police crackdown to restore public order. –– Jakub Parusinski and Oksana Grytsenko.
Clashes intensify as protesters take over several police buses, light one on fire
4:40 p.m. Police who find themselves under attack from radical protesters have resorted to using tear gas to disperse them after flares and smoke bombs are used against them. Protesters rocking police buses have overtaken several buses and set one on fire. They shout “Bandits Out!” and fights break out near Dynamo Stadium close to European Square, at the bottom of the hill leading to Verkhovna Rada. Protesters took several shields away from the police and struck at officers with sticks. Gas grenades are being thrown. Lots of armed “self-defense” units are wielding shields and metal bars and trying to hold their position against police. Protesters continue to try to storm police as tear gas and smoke bombs fill the air. At least one person is wounded from explosives. –– Oksana Grystenko and Jakub Parusinski
Protest turns violent near Verkhovna Rada
4 p.m. Flares are flying and explosions are taking place near the police barricades to the Cabinet of Ministers building on Hrushevskogo Street. Protesters are trying to break through a police barricade now, guarding the Cabinet of Ministers building.
Riot police have used tear gas.
Around 50 anti-government “self-defense” fighters came to the police blockade of the Verkhovna Rada nearby, where a large crowd of demonstrators had already gathered. They started vandalizing one of the police buses and brandished stones and clubs made of metal and wood; some of them struck at officers trying to protect themselves with shields.
Vitali Klitschko tried to calm the crowd, getting into the middle of the police and protesters, but was shouted down as a traitor and a “titushka,” the slang word for pro-government thugs-for-hire. Someone sprayed him with a fire extinguisher. Scuffles continue. The situation is getting out of control.
The angry crowd shouts, “not words, but actions!”
A second police bus has its windows broken out with people shouting, “today or never!” Protesters are not condemning the actions.
Said Mykhailo Dzuiba, a pensioner “The Berkut (riot police) should give in to protesters, as there are so many people. I don’t condemn attackign the police. They attacked our kinds on Nov. 30, so now we attack them.” — Jakub Parusinski, Katya Gorchinskaya and Daryna Shevchenko
EuroMaidan demonstrators take protest to Verkhovna Rada
3:34 p.m. Hrushevskogo Street leading to the Verkhovna Rada is blocked with military cars, mini-vans and buses. The whole crowd is moving in this direction with the aim of trying to force lawmakers back into session to cancel the anti-democratic laws passed on Jan. 16 that curb freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. It started peacefully, with people playing music and dancing, and a lot of people wearing costume masks.
But then the tension started. From the police side, somebody with a loudspeaker announced: “Dear citizens, your actions are illegal and are against the state.” A protester responded that this is a peaceful action. Protesters started pushing one of the police buses.
Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko is on the scene, talking to police and trying to keep order.
Police are warning protesters not to come within three meters of them, otherwise it will be considered a threat to police officers’ rights and will prompt a response. Riot-control units are also on the scene in great numbers, lining up in three-deep rows. Some radical groups in the crowd started throwing smoke and flash bombs. The windows of one police bus are broken. Scuffles break out.
But then the situation calms about 3:45 p.m. with the singing of the national anthem. A massive police presence behind the police buses seems very capable of stopping protesters today. The standoff continues, however. — Daryna Shevchenko
EuroMaidan activists ask police to not carry out criminal orders
3:15 p.m. EuroMaidan activists have asked police and military not to carry out criminal orders, especially appealing against use of force against civilians. The activists read a statement saying that anyone fired for refusing violence against citizens will be reinstated once a new government for Ukraine is installed. “For criminal purposes, they are willing to sully your hands with blood and subject your honor to lifelong shame.” It appealed to the military for its solemn allegiance to the Ukrainian people rather than the “criminal regime that has make the critical mistake of believing in its own omnipotence and impunity. — Brian Bonner
Details of opposition’s action plan
2:54 p.m. The opposition gave the following details of its action plan. Here is a rough translation from the Ukrainian:
Action plans approved by the People’s Chamber
City of Kyiv January 19, 2014
On January 16, the Party of Regions, the Communist Party of Ukraine and some individual deputies passed a series of unconstitutional legislation. This was in violation of the Constitution of Ukraine as well as the rules and regulations of the Verkhovna Rada. The procedures were blatantly criminal and illegal, without any real debate and voting by name.
In Ukraine, there was a coup aimed at overthrowing the constitutional order in the country, the destruction of the foundations of democracy and parliamentarism. These so-called laws substantially restrict the rights of citizens of Ukraine to free speech and peaceful assembly, and in fact, eliminate democracy in Ukraine.
Article 22 of the Constitution of Ukraine clearly states that “the constitutional rights and freedoms are guaranteed and can not be canceled. When adopting new laws or amending existing laws shall not be diminished content and scope of existing rights and freedoms.”… The laws are contrary to Article 34 of the Constitution of Ukraine (which guarantees the right to freedom of opinion and speech, freedom of expression and opinion), Article 39 of the Constitution of Ukraine (which guarantees freedom of assembly).
In this regard, we, members of the People’s Chamber in Independence Square, decided:
1. Not to recognize the so-called laws adopted Jan. 16 since they are legally worthless and violate the Constitution of Ukraine.
2. To establish the People’s Council as an association of people’s deputies of Ukraine, members of the opposition factions Batkivshchyna, Svoboda, and Vitali Klitschko’s UDAR and unaffiliated deputies who are in positions of defending democracy, constitutional and parliamentary system. According to Article 5 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the People’s Council will seek confirmation of its authority by the Ukrainian people, to form an entire chain of command, starting with the government of national trust, which must be supported on the Maidan.
3. Conduct a nationwide popular vote on the following matters:
— no confidence in President Viktor Yanukovych and support for his resignation in a constitutional way; no confidence by members of parliament who voted on Jan. 16 for so-called “dictatorship of law;”
— confirmed by the constitutional and legal means people of Ukraine the authority and legitimacy of the People’s Council;
— restoration of constitutional order in the country, prevent construction of totalitarianism and dictatorship and a return to the Constitution of Ukraine, as amended amended in 2004, which was unconstitutionally and illegally canceled.
3. Form a Constitutional Assembly as a body to draft a new Constitution of Ukraine, to reflect a new, quality conscious, social contract between the state and citizens and to ensure democracy, public trust and the rule of law, the restoration of balance of power, strengthening local government.
4. Conduct a national democratic elections of Kyiv mayor and city council, providing them with training and organization.
5. Seek local governments to create municipal police departments and units of the People’s Self-Defense (nongovernmental organizations to participate in the protection of public order) in order to implement the people’s will. These units will have the task of ensuring public safety, fight against corruption. organized crime, drug trafficking, maintaining law and order during elections.
6. Release and provide full legal rehabilitation of all political prisoners, including imprisoned ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. –– Brian Bonner
Associated Press puts crowd estimate at tens of thousands of people
2:43 p.m. Crowd estimates are hard to make on the streets of Kyiv, but the Associated Press says that tens of thousands of people turned out to today’s rally, so perhaps the crowd is 20,000 to 30,000 at its peak. However, people started leaving by 2:30 p.m. after the three main opposition leaders gave their speeches. The star of the day is journalist and opposition activist Tetyana Chornovol, who spoke to the crowd, and then gave a press briefing saying that she has uncovered a new luxury residence being built by President Viktor Yanukovych. — Brian Bonner.
AutoMaidan goes to Verkhovna Rada
2:25 p.m. AutoMaidan will drive to the parliament building in 30 minutes, announced activist Sergiy Koba. The cars will stay there until lawmakers come to parliament, a prospect that seems highly unlikely since the Verkhovna Rada is not in session. –– Olga Rudenko
Microphone goes off during anti-opposition speech
2:20 p.m. AutoMaidan activist Sergiy Koba gave a short speech from the stage of EuroMaidan. As he was speaking of the “so-called three leaders” failing to give people one leader to follow, the microphone went off for several seconds. Koba asked to turn it back on. — Olga Rudenko
Protesters wear helmets
2:15 p.m. Many people came to the rally wearing helmets, in protest of one of the new laws accepted by the parliament on Jan. 16. The law bans wearing helmets and having face covered at public gatherings. Oleh Tiahnybok was one of those wearing helmets. The law comes into force on the day after the rally, Jan. 20. — Olga Rudenko
National anthem sung at 2 p.m.
2 p.m. Today’s rally, emceed by actor Yevhen Nishchuk, was broken up with the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem and chants of “Glory to Ukraine!” It seems that the main part of the program is over, but other speakers continued. — Brian Bonner
Parliament opposition declares its plan
1:55 p.m. Arseniy Yatseniuk and Olexandr Turchynov of Batkivshchyna party declared the opposition’s plan of actions. The plan includes creating a parallel governance that will begin with organizing a National Council of true oppositional lawmakers. The opposition is to start collecting people’s signatures for creating the council, which is supposed to act as an alternative parliament
“Verkhovna Rada has lost its legitimacy after it approved the (anti-protest) laws several days ago,” said Yatseniuk, explaining why an alternative council can be created now.
The next issues on the plan are resignation of President Yanukovych and Party of Regions lawmakers, electing Kyiv mayor and city council, changing Constitution to remove the changes of 2010 which expanded the authority of the President. — Olga Rudenko
Students rally earlier in day
1:40 p.m. According to EuroMaidanPR service: “Today we had a student’s rally.There were students from six universities of Kyiv.They went to Mikhaliivska (church) to meet another column of students.Then they went to Maidan. The student’s coordinator told that they are not afraid of the new laws. During their march they were shouting slogans like:”Glory to Ukraine!Glory to Heroes!” and “Kyiv,get up and demand your freedom!” –– Brian Bonner
Tiahnybok urges crowd to ignore new laws; some in crowd heckle him
1:30 p.m. Svoboda Party opposition leader Oleh Tiahnybok encourages people to go on with what they were doing, ignoring the anti-democratic and draconian laws signed into law on Jan. 19 that restrict freedom of assembly and free speech.
“The most important thing is that with the (anti-protest) laws (adopted on Jan. 16) is that they showed us that they are afraid. It means that what we were doing in the past months was right. This is your plan of action, continue to do what you were doing,” Tiahnybok said.
In response, many people in the crowd started whistling and shouting “Give us a leader.” The heckling is something of a new wrinkle to the public’s reaction, clearly indicating growing frustration and impatience with what critics say is no clear, courageous action by opposition leaders.
Tiahnybok quoted several articles of Ukraine’s Constitution that are, according to him, violated by laws adopted on Jan. 16.
“Our main task now is to sabotage these laws. On every level we must do it. The officials who will carry out these laws will be declared out of law,” he said. — Olga Rudenko, Oksana Grytsenko, Daryna Shevchenko
Crowd chants: ‘Give us a leader’
1:20 p.m. As opposition leader Oleh Tiahnybok, head of the Svoboda Party speaks, the crowd chant “give us a leader” and whistle as he delivers his remarks. Clearly, people are getting impatience with words and rallies and want action. — Daryna Shevchenko
Klitschko declares early presidential elections, says nation can’t wait until 2015
1:15 p.m. Leader of the oppositional Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform party, Vitali Klitschko, spoke from the EuroMaidan stage, announcing the opposition’s plan of action. “First, we declare that the laws that Party of Regions adopted on Jan. 16 are not legal and not active. Second, we declare early presidential elections (ahead of 2015 scheduled election). We’ll have a vote on that. Third, members of the Central Elections Commitee must be changed to ensure the honest elections.” — Olga Rudenko
AutoMaidan leader wants opposition to identify resistance leader
1 p.m. AutoMaidan leader Dmitry Bulatov addressed parliament opposition leaders, saying “AutoMaidan asked you to define a single (elections) candidate. You didn’t. But now it doesn’t matter, because there won’t be any normal elections, as we now see. We don’t need a single candidate anymore, we need a leader of resistance, who will take responsibility and lead us to the victory. Give us the name.” — Olga Rudenko
Tetyana Chornovol: ‘This is war…This government knows how to kill’
12:45 p.m. Tetiana Chornovol, an activist and investigative journalist, came to the EuroMaidan rally for the first time after she was beaten on Dec. 25 by a group of men. She believes President Viktor Yanukovych ordered her murder, a charge he denies.
Chornovol spoke from the stage, calling people to come to Maidan Nezalezhnosti not only on weekends, but daily, and thanked people for their support while she was in the hospital. She spoke with a bandage on her broken nose.
“This is war. On the one side there are people, on the other side those who rob us. Yanukovych won’t give up power easily. But we have a legal weapon, 2015 presidential elections,” she said. “As a journalist I was investigating the forming of Donetsk clan. I was sure they’ll try to kill me once. I never thought it will happen so soon.”
Chornovol also shared her view of Yanukovych and his allies.
“Around 10 current Party of Regions lawmakers used to be professional killers. This government knows how to kill,” she claimed. “Yanukovych himself gets entertained killing animals in his hunting mansion.” — Olga Rudenko.
Crowd still massing; prayers, song open rally
12:15 p.m. The rally starts on time and people are still arriving, filling up Independence Square as well as massed high on the hill at October Palace and the balcony overlooking the square from Globus shopping center. It is no million-person rally, but easily more than 10,000 people are here. The exit to Khreshchatyk Street from Khreshatyk metro was blocked and people were asked to use the exits to Horodetskog and Instytutska streets because of the huge crowd. People sing the national anthem and chant “Glory to Ukraine” in the subsway. People pray together, read Otche Nash, a Christian prayer. — Daryna Shevchenko
10:47 a.m. It’s a partly cloudy and cold day (-8C) for a EuroMaidan rally today that will be one way to measure public outrage over new laws that call for jail terms for unsanctioned peaceful protests and public slander of public officials. Political opposition leaders call the raft of anti-democratic measures, rammed through parliament on Jan. 16 without a roll call vote and without public debate or advance notice, a de facto coup by President Viktor Yanukovych. The events, they say, call into question whether a free and fair presidential election will be held in 2015. It’s the ninth Sunday rally in a row for the protesters who have been seeking to force Yanukovych’s resignation. One big question today is whether EuroMaidan leaders will identify any specific new actions or be content to give speeches, sing the national anthem and send the people home at the end of the day. — Brian Bonner
